Read the series: Part 1: Ideas | Part 2: Validation | Part 3: Selling | Part 4: Scaling | Part 5: Momentum
THIS IS PART 2 OF A 5-PART SERIES
How to test your idea before you build—and avoid wasting time, money, and energy
In Post 1, we focused on something powerful but often overlooked: You already have ideas worth selling. Now comes the part that separates dreamers from doers—and frustration from forward progress.
👉 Validation.
Validation is what keeps you from spending weeks (or months) building something no one wants. It replaces guessing with clarity and anxiety with confidence. This post is for you if you’ve ever thought:
- “What if nobody buys this?”
- “What if I waste my time?”
- “What if I launch and it flops?”
Why Validation Saves Time, Money, and Energy
Most people think validation is about doubt or fear. It’s not. Validation is about respect:
- Respect for your time
- Respect for your energy
- Respect for the people you want to help
Building a digital product without validation is like cooking a full meal without asking if anyone is hungry. Validation helps you answer one critical question early:
Does anyone actually want this—and are they willing to act on that desire?
Not “Do they like it?”
Not “Would they maybe use it someday?”
But: Would they engage, sign up, or pay?
What Validation Really Means (And What It Doesn’t)
Let’s simplify this, because “validation” gets overcomplicated fast. Validation means getting real-world proof that people are interested enough to take a meaningful step—before you build the full product.
What validation is: People joining a waitlist, replying “yes” to an offer, pre-ordering, or asking follow-up questions. Validation is not: Likes, views, compliments, or “This sounds cool!”
Interest without action is entertainment. Validation includes commitment.
Simple Ways to Test Demand (Without Pressure)
You don’t need a big audience or fancy tools to validate an idea. You need clarity and courage. Here are practical, beginner-friendly ways to test demand.
1. Pre-Sell the Idea
This is one of the strongest forms of validation. To pre-sell the idea, you simply say: “I’m thinking about creating X. If this existed, would you want access?”
You can offer it at a discount, limit spots, or make it refundable. If people are willing to pay before it exists, that’s strong confirmation.
2. Create a Simple Waitlist
A waitlist removes the pressure to buy immediately while still showing intent. You can say: “I’m working on something to help with [problem]. Join the list if you want early access.”
If people sign up, you’re onto something. If no one does, that’s feedback—not failure.
3. Use Polls and Surveys (The Right Way)
Polls can help, but only if you ask the right questions. Instead of “Would you like this?” Ask “Which of these problems feels most urgent right now?” or “What have you already tried to solve this?”
This helps you refine the product, adjust messaging, and choose the strongest angle.
4. Share Mockups or Outlines
You don’t need the finished product. You can share the table of contents, a sample page, a rough outline, or a preview screenshot. Then ask “What would make this more useful?” or “What’s missing?”
Validation isn’t just about if people want it—it’s about how they want it.
Action Step: The 7-Day Validation Plan
Here’s a simple way to validate without overwhelm:
- Day 1–2: Choose one idea and write a clear problem statement.
- Day 3: Create a short description of the solution
- Day 4: Share it with your audience (email, social media, DM, or group).
- Day 5: Invite people to join a waitlist or reply.
- Day 6–7: Review responses and patterns.
No perfection. Just movement.
Choosing the Right Product Format
Once an idea shows signs of interest, the next decision is format.
Product–market fit means matching what you create with how your audience prefers to consume information. Not everyone wants a long course, hours of video, or a thick workbook.
Many people want something quick, something clear and something usable immediately.
Popular Digital Product Formats (And When to Use Them)
- E-books / Guides — Best for step-by-step explanations, frameworks, or reference material.
- Templates / Printables — Best for busy people, repeatable tasks, and immediate results.
- Video Content — Best for demonstrations, visual learners, and relationship-building.
- Audio Products — Best for reflection, encouragement, or on-the-go learning.
Choose the format that removes friction—not adds to it.
Planning Without Overplanning
This is where many creators stall. They try to build everything at once, perfect every detail, or anticipate every future use. Instead, think MVP.
An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the smallest version of your product that still delivers real value. It asks: What does someone need to get results? Or what can wait until version 2?
Your first product should: Solve one problem. Deliver one outcome. Do it clearly. Everything else is optional.
Pricing Early (Without Fear)
Pricing is emotional—but it doesn’t have to be paralyzing. Here’s the mindset shift: 👉Pricing is feedback, not a verdict.
You’re not locking yourself into a number forever. You’re testing value perception.
Simple Pricing Guidelines
- Don’t default to free
- Don’t underprice out of fear
- Don’t overcomplicate tiers at the start
Ask: What is the cost of staying stuck? Or what is the value of clarity or time saved? Even modest pricing creates commitment—and respect for the product.
What If Validation Is Quiet?
Validation matters, so let’s be honest. If you share an idea and hear crickets:
- It doesn’t mean you failed
- It doesn’t mean you’re not capable
- It means something needs adjusting
Possibilities are that the problem wasn’t urgent, the message wasn’t clear, or the audience wasn’t the right fit. Validation gives you information, not judgment.
Preparing to Sell (Without Feeling Awkward)
Once you’ve validated, you’re no longer guessing. You’re responding to interest. That’s where selling changes tone. You’re not pushing. You’re inviting.
In Post 3, we’ll talk about:
- Selling without pressure
- Framing offers around outcomes
- Creating trust-driven sales pages
- Pricing with integrity
Selling doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable. It can feel like service.
Your Action Steps Before Moving On
Before reading the next post:
- Choose one idea to validate
- Decide:
- Pre-sell or waitlist?
- Poll or direct message?
- Take one visible action this week
Momentum matters more than mastery.
➡ Next up: Making Sales Without Being Pushy
(How to sell confidently, ethically, and without feeling “salesy.”)
➡ This is Part 2 of the Digital Product Monetization Series. You can find the full roadmap here.